Burning The Grapes of Wrath

Hey guys, I just received an advance readers copy of Obscene in the Extreme: The Burning and Banning of John Steinbeck's the Grapes of Wrath.

I haven't started it yet, so this isn't a recommendation. I just figured with our group's theme and all, it may be of some interest.

I have it on request at the library already.

Oh, that one looked interesting. Requested, but alas, I was not chosen by the almighty algorithm.

I hope you'll let us know when you post your review!

Okay guys, I won't keep posting every time I read a chunk of the book. I don't want the thread to feel spammy. But as a first update I've read the first 14 pages.

I like the writing style so far. But the reason I'm posting is that I've developed a nerd-crush on Gretchen Knief, the Kern County librarian who's standing up for The Grapes of Wrath.

I received Obscene in the Extreme: The Burning and Banning of John Steinbeck's the Grapes of Wrath as an Early Reviewer as well, and I've made it all the way to page 20 today.

While I wouldn't go so far as to say I have a nerd-crush on Gretchen Knief (at least not yet anyway), I do admire her tenacity and her love of her library.

http://www.librarything.com/work/5698286/reviews/35351180

This is the first time I've jumped in on "Talk". Hope you all don't mind. Julie

I received this book about 10 days ago, put it aside for a while and then read it in a couple of days. I'm really grateful to LT Early Reviewers: if not for them, I would've never read this book. Even when I started reading it I kept thinking: I know this great book (Grapes of Wrath) was banned like many others before and after its time, what else is there to know.

Boy, was I wrong! There is so much more. All the historical background, the people, the politics behind Grapes of Wrath and its banning. I am not saying this book is perfect (I'm talking about Obscene in the Extreme) - I would've liked to see more details about Gretchen Knief, the librarian and more about the libraries in that time. However, there is much information that is new to me that I am very happy I've read it.

Thanks again guys for sending me this book!

I've finished the book a few days ago (I'm working on a review for it). I really liked the book but it was either too short or not focused enough. Rick Wartzman uses the banning of The Grapes of Wrath to examine state and national politics of the time and it was a valid approach but too many names were thrown at me too quickly in the 280 or so pages the book ran.

I posted my review today...

In summation, a good book but a deceptive title.